“The View”'s Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin clash over using naughty list to keep kids in line: 'Santa holds grudges'

Sara Haines and Sunny Hostin clashed on Tuesday’s episode of The View over whether it was right for parents to use Santa’s naughty list as a way of keeping their children in check.

Haines was a proponent of parents using the idea of the naughty list to their advantage, showcasing two videos that she had personally recorded that featured Santa praising her daughter Sandra for her good behavior and warning her sons Alec and Caleb that they were heading into naughty list territory. 

“People were teasing me they were like, ‘Look, you’re shaming your kids through Santa,’ and I’m like, ‘Well, Santa is always watching and they are not behaving,’” she explained about the clips. “They’re not just age-appropriate not behaving, they’re manipulating things and I’m kind of finding that balance between modern-day parenting and understanding them and regulating their feelings, and the ‘80s and ‘90s parents that are like, ‘I said so, so you’re gonna do that.’ We’re finding the medium and the boys are really out of control right now, so I needed to call in reinforcements.”

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A true attorney, Hostin quickly came to Alec and Caleb’s defense. “They can’t be on the naughty list,” she declared, pouting. “No.” 

While Haines emphasized that her children are all still getting presents this year, she noted that using Santa has been beneficial because her two sons have been “a little naughty” as of late, often “beating the crap out of each other nonstop” and antagonizing one another. “No,” Hostin, who is mom to son Gabriel and daughter Paloma, whined. “Those are love taps!” 

She also pointed out the unfairness of the situation for the children involved. “Adults don’t have to account for their poor behavior on a minute-by-minute basis,” Hostin said, clutching her mug. “They still get gifts!” 

Whoopi Goldberg then jumped into the fray, quipping, “Because they have money to go buy them! This is apples and oranges, baby!”

Goldberg added that warning children that they might be end up on the naughty list is an excuse that all parents have used at one point or another. “I haven’t!” a still-pouting Hostin interjected, leading Goldberg to simply reply, “I don’t believe you.”

Hostin was adamant about her innocence. “I haven’t,” she maintained. “I haven’t. My kids are little precious cherub angels.” Haines replied, “Mine are not.”

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Goldberg, who is mom to daughter Alex, said, "When little kids are little, you say, ‘Listen, you are not getting everything you think you want because I’m calling him because you don’t understand. You’ve been really great and now, suddenly, you’re just out of control.'"

Hostin could be heard saying “no” throughout Goldberg’s explanation. “I told them: I’m not lying to Santa when he asks,” Haines added, raising her hands in the air. “I tell him exactly what I see.”

Hostin then interjected, “Santa forgives!” To which Haines fired back, “No, Jesus forgives. Santa holds a grudge.” The Hot Topics table then burst into laughter, with Hostin repeatedly shaking her head in dismay.

The View airs weekdays at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on ABC.

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